Choose Your Friends Carefully

Choose Your Friends Carefully

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” (Proverbs 13:20)

While we should befriend the unlovely and lonely in order to minister to them, our friends will determine the direction of our lives. There is no doubt that the type of company that we keep shapes our views, thinking and future. Solomon, who was very wise, said that keeping company with astute men will make us wise. This is simply a natural law – there is nothing super-spiritual about that concept. The more we listen to, and talk with, those who are wise, the more we will learn to also become wise.

It is therefore important that we find and befriend people who are able to enrich our lives – not with material things but spiritual things. When Jesus was only twelve years old He chose to sit with the teachers and sages to learn from them, rather than play with the other kids His age. Of course not all educated and experienced people will want to spend time with those who are below their level. But those who have such a high opinion of themselves that they will not associate with people of low estate are not wise, no matter how much they may know. People like that can’t teach you much anyway.

The converse is also true: Those who are friends of fools will not only become fools themselves but will ultimately be destroyed. The very fact that someone chooses to associate with fools, reveals that such a one is also a fool, simply because he makes such a stupid choice. This kind of company will not only rob one of the little wisdom he may have but will lead to his destruction because all fools walk a path that leads to their own ship-wreck.

Here in Los Angeles thousands of young lives are ruined because of bad friendships. Daily young people choose to associate with other young people who are in gangs, doing drugs and crime. They do this in spite of generations of history that prove that such friendships will result in prison sentences and death. While I fully understand the strong desire amongst our young people to be accepted by their piers, I do not understand that this need for bad companions is so strong that it overrules the desire for life and a future. Yet, every day thousands of young lives are destroyed because of one thing only – bad friends. These young people make these choices in spite of the warnings of heart-broken parents and other loved ones who see the handwriting on the wall. None of these youths will willingly jump into a cage full of hungry lions, yet they willingly choose friendships that will just as certainly lead to their destruction.

The principle “Evil company corrupts good habits” (1Corinthians 15:33) does not only apply to friends in general, but is particularly true of those with whom we choose to fellowship on a spiritual level. Attend a bad church, read books written by idiots and listen to sermons by heretics and it will affect your spiritual walk. Just as it is stupid for a young man to join a gang and to think he will not end in prison or die, so it is idiotic for someone who think they can fill their minds with garbage and not end in spiritual bondage or even die. I don’t know whether there are more young people in bad relationships or more Christians in dangerous churches, but both numbers reach into millions across the world and the future of both groups is equally grim.

The problem is that many feel they can immerse ourselves in misinformation and still keep a right perspective. This is simply not possible. Even a little leaven will leaven the whole lump. Someone may occasionally be drenched by a wave of the sea and they may survive a few gulps of sea water but there is no way anyone can be immersed in the ocean for a few hours and survive. Yes, every Christian is hit by the occasional wave of error but it is those who choose to immerse themselves in such an environment that have no chance of survival. No wonder the Lord calls for us to be separate.

The story of Jonathan and David is incredibly sad. Jonathan knew that David was chosen by God. He loved David with all his heart and he, himself, saw a wonderful future for himself as David’s right-hand-man. (1Samuel 23:17). Their love for each other is legendary but at the end of the day, Jonathan chose to remain in his father, Saul’s, palace rather than live as a fugitive with David. This choice was fatal because instead of ruling Israel as second to David, he died in shame and defeat with Saul. Right now there are probably millions of people who are choosing the friendship of the familiar, rather than side with the One who was despised and rejected by men. This will lead to their death. This is true of young people who choose bad friends and Christians who choose bad churches and teachers.

The following verses are often quoted in the context of marriage, but it goes much further than that, in context they deal with the teachers we choose to follow. “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate”, says the Lord. “Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty." Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (1Corinthians 6:14 – 7:1)

Whose friendship do you really want, the friendship of fools which will lead to your destruction, or the friendship of God which will lead to life? You must choose.

Anton Bosch

anton@ifcb.net

3310 W Magnolia Blvd

Burbank, CA, 91505

Tel 818 846 5520